The drum beats around Jimmy ButlerThe end of Miami’s stay has become increasingly vocal in recent days as reports indicate the Heat are now listening to trade offers for the six-time All-Star.
According to Shams Charania of ESPNthe Heat are ready to deal with the 35-year-old and his agent – Bernie Lee – has made it known around the league that the forward would be open to joining the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.
One team Butler has expressed interest in that hasn’t been mentioned is Nets. But Brooklyn has been interested in Butler in the past and the feeling has been mutual. And according to Brian Lewis of the New York Posthe still has interest in joining the Nets.
However, as the Nets undertake a rebuild, it is not believed that the general manager Sean Marques is interested in giving up its assets to acquire the veteran, Lewis noted. And with Butler’s injury history — he last played in 65 regular-season games in 2018-19 — he may not be the superstar to sit under center for the revamped Nets next season.
Not to mention, Butler has a $52.2 million player option for next year, which he could decline to become an unrestricted free agent. A source close to the attacker said to Lewis that the Nets are Butler’s “first choice” for a scenario that involves playing the full year, opting out of his contract, then signing there as a free agent.
Lee, for his part, denied Charania’s reports in a series of social media posts, one of which was reposted by the Miami owner. Micky Arisonwhich could seemingly indicate that there isn’t much interest in trading Butler in the first place.
Butler, who is averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Heat (12-10 and 5th place in the Eastern Conference), said he doesn’t mind his name being in the rumor mill two months before February 6. NBA trade deadline.
“I actually like it,” he told reporters Wednesday. “It’s good to talk about it. I don’t think there’s such a thing as bad publicity, up to a point.”
